Medical and clinical laboratory technologists analyze biological specimens in laboratory settings. The Bureau of Laboratory Statistics reports that while in small laboratories, medical scientists often perform tests on many types of specimens, those working in large labs frequently specialize. Microbiology technologists are laboratory scientists who study bacteria and other microbial organisms.

General Pay Scale

As of 2011, medical and clinical laboratory technologists in the U.S. earned median salaries of between $48,220 and $68,320 per year, or $23.18 and $32.84 per hour, according to the BLS. The 10 percent reporting the lowest wages earned $39,550 or less per year, and the very highest paid 10 percent earned salaries of $78,160 or more per year. The national average for this occupation was $58,120 per year, or $27.94 per hour.

Regional Variations

As of 2011, the BLS reports the highest average pay for microbiology and other clinical technologists in the U.S. tended to be in the Northeast and the West, as well as Alaska. The highest salaries, averaging $78,400 per year, were reported in California. Nevada reported the second-highest average annual pay, $68,790, while clinical laboratory technologists in Nevada, Washington, D.C., and Massachusetts earned an average of $66,000 or more per year. The lowest-paying state was South Carolina, where they earned less than $45,000 per year, on average.

Variations by Employer

As of 2011, laboratory technologists employed by the federal government averaged more than $64,500 per year, one of the highest average earnings reported. Those working in specialty hospitals also reported high average earnings, about $62,000 per year. Clinical technologists working in general hospitals averaged $58,580 per year, and those in medical and diagnostic laboratories averaged $58,390 per year. Clinical laboratory technologists working in the offices of physicians and colleges and universities reported earnings below the national average, between $54,000 and $56,000 per year.

Employment Prospects

As of 2010, the BLS predicts employment among clinical laboratory technologists will grow at a rate of about 11 percent over a decade, resulting in an estimated 19,200 jobs by 2020. Employment growth in this industry is predicted to be driven by the need to understand diseases for an aging population. The bureau reports many employers prefer to hire laboratory technologists who have received certification, although it is not required in all states.